The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-30
0BERLY GIVES WARNING
STATE ASSOCIATIONS AMONG THE
CLERKS ILLEGAL.

MEM D6fS are LlaDl0 TO inc FoualUl6S
Imposed by the Civil Service Law
The Evils of Such Organizations Il
lustrated During the Days of Repub-
lican Corruption.
WASHINGTON, Sept 29-Civil Service
Commissioner Oberly has written a long
letter to Charles l.. Spencer, who, on behalf
of the Illinois Democratic Association of
this city, had invited MIR. Oberly to address
the Association this evening. The Illinois
Democratic Association is political organi-
zation of clerks from the State of Illinois in
the Government departmental service. Mr..
Oberly declined to address them
on the ground that it would be
an impropriety on his part, as he
is entrusted with the administration
of non-partisan law, to participate in
partisan demonstration. Mr.. Oberly
maintains that this rule holds good also as
to civil service examiners, and that they
have no right to take any part i'll partisan
meetings, The Illinois Democratic Associa-
tion, he says, was an organization of office
holders, and that it cannot, in his opinion,
exist without its members violating several
of the penal clauses of the civil service law.
He maintains that the law forbids such or
ganizations.
HIS OWN WORDS.
Mr.. Oberly says: ~ have come to the
conclusion that | cannot accept the invita-
tion of the Illinois Democratic Association,
courteously extended to me by you as a
committee of that body, without violating
an official obligation. The commission holds
| that entrance to and continuance in that
part of the executive civil service, known
| as the classified civil service, should be upon
the merit of the applicant or employe with
out regard to his political opinions or affilia-
| tions. This position is justified by many
| considerations, all of which lead irresistibly
| to the conclusions that the civil service act
| of 1888 was enacted for the purpose of pro
| viding non-partisan service. 1t follows,
| therefore, that this law should be executed
| in a strictly non-partisan manner, and from
| this proposition logically follows the conclu-
| sion that an officer charged with its execu-
| tion would not be effective in the discharge
| of his duty if by activep participation in party
| politics he destroys the confidence of the pub
| lie in his fairness and impartiality. A civil
| service commissioner or civil service exam
iner as a member of apolitical committee,
| or as a member, patron or encourager of a
| political association composed of persons in
/ the public service, all members of one polit-
| ical party, organized for the purpose OF
putting certain political partisans into,
| and of excluding certain other political
partisans from office. would certainly be out
of place and the public would be justified in
| the conclusion that in the discharge of his
duties he might bear unfairly against
political opponents and lean partially
i toward party friends
| RIGHT OF OPINION.
s'The commission has expressed the opinion
| that Republican in the public service
has right to entertain strong
political views and to give at
the proper time, strong expressions to those
views. In this connection the commission
has said: The opinion is not to he tolerated
| that because a man occupies place in the
classified civil service, he must therefore sur
render his right to take an interest in the
politics of the country No good citizen
will, and no degree of activ'
| ity in an effort to advance
the interest of party opposed to the ad-
ministration should, provided his partisan
activity in no way interferes with his pub
| lie duties, render insecure in the service of
the government the position of any person
| who does not occupy place, the discharge
of the duties of which affects the public SER
vice. This position may be
perverted into an appearance of
| inconsistency with the position
| that the Illinois Democratic Association
may not, with propriety, be patronized or
encouraged. 1t may be held that there can
be no legal or other good objection that can
be urged against the policy of Democrats in
done, for the purpose of being
| active in an effort to pro
mote the interest of the administration
| In other words it may be said that there is
an unwillingness on my part to give to the
| Democratic office-holder the same partisan
privileges that are accorded as of right to O
! Republican office-holder
wELL-FoUNDED OBJECTIONS.
| "Candid consideration of the Illinois Demo
cratic Association in the light shed upon il
| by several sections of the civi
service act will, however, show you
that my objection to such partisan associa
ton of officeholders are based upon strong
foundation, that which no partisan sophistry
can destroy or even weaken"
Mr. Oberly here quotes sections H. IA ant
ID of the civil service act, which pro
hibit political assessment in any shap,
and provide a penalty for violation
and proceeds SIT should not be forgotten
that the provisions of the civil service ac
to which have referred, and other similar
provisions of that act, were passed while
the Republican party was in power
and when, by perverting instru-
| mentalltleS, Une hepuDucanS Wer'
using the public service for partisan
purposes. When the Republican
party was filling the civil service with mel
and women, not because they would be eff
cient public servants, but for the reasoi
that they. or their friends, had been activ,
in advancing the political fortune of som'
member of that party, when, having
! thus appointed men and women fol
partisan reasons only, the Republican
party then robbed them by assessment
and by solicitations accompanied by oper
or hinted threats of dismissal; when for thu
| purpose of making its frequent attempts al
this kind of robbery effective, it organized
! Republican State associations, and used them
| in taking from the purses Of it's victims mon
ey that was needed in the support, and
! education of families dependent upon the
| persons who were compelled to heed th'
partisan demand 10 stand and deliver
ROBBERY BY ASSESSMENT.